Blog

Better Business Bureau Accreditation

September 15, 2017

PTCOA is honored to be recognized as an accredited business with the Better Business Bureau!

2017 Annual Scientific Assembly of The Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians

August 7, 2017

Pain Treatment Centers of America is proud to support our Family Practice friends this week at the 2017 Annual Scientific Assembly of The Arkansas Academy of Family Physicians! (thanks Misty and Molly)

Dr. Iden Cowan Appears on Good Morning Arkansas

May 9, 2017

Pain Treatment Centers of America is very proud of its own Iden Cowan, M.D. for representing PTCOA and our valued patients so well on Good Morning Arkansas Monday, May 1! Here's the clip.

Pain Treatment Centers of America recognized for Quality Lab Services

December 16, 2016

Pain Treatment Centers of America has met all criteria for Laboratory Accreditation by COLA, a national healthcare accreditation organization. Accreditation is given only to laboratories that apply rigid standards of quality in day-to-day operations, demonstrate continued accuracy in the performance of proficiency testing, and pass a rigorous on-site laboratory survey. Pain Treatment Centers of America has earned COLA accreditation as a result of a long-term commitment to provide quality service to its patients.

COLA is a nonprofit, physician-directed organization promoting quality and excellence in medicine and patient care through programs of voluntary education, achievement, and accreditation.

COLA is approved by the federal government and sponsored by the American Academy of Family Physicians, the American Medical Association, and the American College of Physicians- American Society of Internal Medicine.

Conway, We've Moved!!!

November 17, 2016

Conway, We’ve Moved!!!....

We have spent the past few months at a temporary location for our Conway clinic and many great memories have been made there, but it is time for a new chapter. We couldn’t be more excited about our NEW permanent location. We are happy to announce that our Conway clinic has moved to a new working space in the Conway Regional Medical Park. We are located in between the Medicine Shoppe and Groovy Smiles Pediatric Dentistry. Our new address is 2425 Dave Ward Drive, Suite 601. We look forward to sharing our new space with you and continue giving individualized care in a facility that is tailored to Pain Treatment Centers of America.

Dr. Noemi Ramsay joins Conway location

September 19, 2016

PTCOA welcomes Dr. Noemi Ramsay to Conway.

Dr. Noemi Ramsay completed her anesthesia residency at Boston Medical Center, after which she completed a pain management fellowship at the University of Baltimore Medical Center. She practiced general anesthesia for 10 years on the Eastern Shore of Maryland, then realized she wanted to make more of a difference in her patients’ lives than just getting them through their surgeries. So for the last 3 years, Dr. Ramsay has dedicated her time helping treat and alleviate pain as a fellowship trained, board certified pain management physician, one patient at a time.

Dr. Noadia Worku joins White Hall location

August 18, 2016

It may seem that we are adding a new Doctor or location every month. The fact is Pain Treatment Centers of America are expanding to cover the needs of Arkansan’s in pain. Happily we announce the addition of Dr. Noadia Worku to our White Hall office. The Natural State is a great place to live and work and for people in the White Hall, Pine Bluff and the Southeast Arkansas area Dr. Worku is a great asset. She moved after graduation to Arkansas to complete her residency training at University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in Little Rock. As a Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Dr. Worku is a welcome addition to the PTCOA team.

By far, the best moment in my career as a physician was joining PTCOA (Pain Treatment Centers of America). I’ve been surrounded by dedicated physicians that have become my friends and mentors, as well as tremendous nurses. I’m pretty proud of my team and the care we deliver.

HOW YOU DEFINE SUCCESS:

Success to me is accomplishing the goals I’ve set forth as well as achieving financial freedom to be able to give to causes I’m passionate about: anything related to animals and helping children in need.

WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL?

I have many, but first, my parents. They immigrated from Iran during the revolution. My father had two Ph.D.s and washed dishes to bring money to our family while working on his postdoctorate. It’s humbling, not to mention their work ethic.

HOW DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS IS WHAT YOU WANTED TO DO?

I’m one of those typical people that say they always knew they wanted to be a doctor, and I’ve always enjoyed working with my hands. Interventional pain allows me to perform procedures that help people with chronic joint pain.

I consider myself a very lucky individual as I am able to pursue two of my passions. First, the practice of interventional pain medicine, and second, pursuing my creative outlets in creating Blue Canoe Brewing Co. and now opening Taco Beer Burrito @BCBC! I feel extremely privileged to be able to treat deserving Arkansans with spine and joint pain with procedures spanning from kyphoplasties, radio-frequency ablations to epidural steroid injections. I equally enjoy designing different beers & graphics for Blue Canoe as well. You only get one go-around in life!

Balance .. not as easy as it sounds…

May 13, 2016

Balance…. it’s not as easy as it sounds…. our own Dr. Carl Covey, was featured in this article about the over AND UNDER prescription of opiate painkillers. If you are hurting… it’s worth a read. If you feel you need an appointment please call 501-773-6993 for an initial consultation.

Dr. Covey noted….
“Primary care physicians are just downright scared of any opiate medicines, and it is going to get worse with the new CDC guidelines,” Covey said. “Many won’t prescribe opiates, or if they write them, will write them for only three days. They will try to get patients to take aspirin or Tylenol, but you would be surprised how many people can’t take these. And many people are at risk from taking too much Tylenol. For a lot of these folks, opiates are the safest medicine. Primary care doctors do not need to fear taking good care of patients. They just need to be smarter and more careful about the volume of medicine they prescribe.”

Covey said when a patient comes in and is suffering, physicians need to help them by being a mentor, giving good advice and prescribing the appropriate medicine.

Opiate pain medicines work very, very well and are very safe from a toxicity standpoint, Covey said, so patients shouldn’t be denied the medicine because a small percentage of people will develop a psychological addiction to the medicine. And care needs to be taken to prevent a patient becoming ill from suddenly stopping opiate painkillers because they can no longer get a prescription.

“Even if you have been on an opiate painkiller for just a few days, it is important to taper off of it,” Covey said. “Don’t suddenly stop the medicine because you will feel really crappy. Always taper off just like with benzodiazepines and steroids.”

Feeling “heard” not herded

May 5, 2016

As we grow more and more dependent on technology and “modernization” everything seems to be more “streamlined”.

Unfortunately, sometimes “streamlined” can become code term for HERDED Like Cattle.
Nothing is worse than being in severe chronic pain, taking time to come and wait to see the Dr. and then NOT feeling HEARD.
At Pain Treatment Centers of America we work hard every day to “hear” you. To hear your issues, your feelings and how these affect your daily life.
We then help medically, emotionally and in every way we can. You are NOT a number, not a SS code or a Billing Code to us at Pain Treatment Centers of America and

Please call today and see what a difference caring and concerned staff can make in your treatment.
Your more than a number.. You are you .. and we like you.

All the noise…

April 5, 2016

In today’s world we suffer NOT from too much information .. but from TOO many “headlines”. News these days plays like the old Top 40 Radio stations. It’s nice and pleasant, but you ONLY hear the top 40 songs. Song number 41 never makes it.

In a similar way medical news and updates only come to those that are attentive, watching and searching for it. Our Doctors are those people. The ones that weed and sort out the REAL information .. if it is song 1 or 39 or 41 or even 99. We like to pass along the news we know will be helpful to you. That said, many times it is news we have know or have been practicing for years already.

As Pain Specialist have seen the results of misuse and it hurts us.
You see, as long care, DEDICATED Pain Doctors we will still be here after the fly by night Pill Mills have gotten you hooked.
We are not “spoil sports” or mean Doctors trying to keep you in pain, FAR from it. We are the OPPOSITE of that image.
We are the Doctors who pick up the pieces after other provider may have made a mess.
We KNOW what addiction looks like, and how sad it is and the lives and families it can destroy.

Our Goal is your Recovery … not simply medicating you.
Call us today and let’s talk about how we can assist you.

Excellence… it takes homework

February 23, 2016

Excellence… Is a moving target. It changes, grows and morphs. Excellence does not always happen in the spotlight. It takes a lot of hard work behind the scenes. Like attending cadaver labs to train on operative techniques. Medtronic, the worlds largest medical device company and one of our partners in various therapies, helps us stay on the cutting edge. Medtronic is unique in that they can bring cadaver labs to the physician. Using 18 wheelers that are fully equipped labs with multiple operating stations, c-arms (fr image guidance), and all necessary instrumentation. On a recent trip to Little Rock, Pain Treatment Centers of America Physicians were offered time in the lab and to practice their techniques for advanced interventional pain therapies such as spinal cord stimulation, intrathecal drug delivery (pain pumps), and kyphoplasties. Dr. Siddiqui, the most experience with these procedures, leads group discussion and lab where all interested physicians get time with the cadaver. Again, this is one of the many ways we strive for excellence. We want our physicians to be as skilled as possible when you get on the table for a procedures. Excellence …. doesn’t just happen it requires homework…. like this.

New York Society of Anesthesiologists

December 22, 2015

Dr. Meraj Siddiqui, Kaylin Cesarski and Kasey Sharp recently presented a research paper on behalf of the White River Pain Management Clinic during the scientific session of the 69th Annual Post Graduate Assembly (PGA) meeting of the New York Society of Anesthesiologists in New York on December 12. New York Society of Anesthesiologists is the oldest society of anesthesiologists in the world. It is also one of the most respected scientific forums for anesthesia and pain management. Top scientists from all over the world were in attendance to present their state of the art scientific research at the 69th PGA meeting. Their study was only one of two studies from Arkansas selected to be presented at the conference.

Dr. Siddiqui has a devotion and passion for research, especially research involving the implantable pain pump. Over the past year, Dr. Siddiqui and Kaylin Cesarski have been working on the study. The pain pump is a therapy for chronic pain that is used once all of the other therapies fail, including surgery, high dose of opioids and interventional therapies. The pump delivers medication directly to the spinal cord and has a device called PTM. The purpose of this study was to evaluate how the device can prevent opioid withdrawals when switching from oral Morphine to intrathecal Morphine. Often time’s a patient will continue to take oral opioids with the intrathecal opioids once the pump is placed, which increases the likelihood of opioid overdose. If the oral medication is stopped immediately, there is a chance for the patient to go into severe withdrawals. To prevent these withdrawals, the PTM device is used to deliver a set amount of medication for breakthrough pain. As the first study done to establish the role of a PTM in preventing Morphine withdrawals when converting from oral to intrathecal Morphine therapy, it sparked great interest and was very well-received among those in attendance at the conference.

Welcome Video

December 9, 2015

Stepping up to the Pump

December 7, 2015

Pain can be dangerous. In today’s complicated medical world even changing one form of pain management to another can literally be life threatening.
We are proud to share with you the ongoing research from our own Dr. Meraj Siddiqui and Dr. Ahmad Rafi.

Dr. Siddiqui, Dr. Rafi and Kaylin Cesarski recently finished a study titled, “Does a PTM prevent opioid withdrawals when converting from oral opioids to intrathecal Fentanyl therapy IDDS?”
Dr. Rafi will be presenting this research during the scientific session of the North American Neuromodulation Society (NANS) Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada in December.NANS is dedicated to the success of neuromodulation therapies (altering nerve activity with electrical or pharmaceutical / drug agents) and to the field of neuromodulation within the United States.
The study that will be presented at the NANS conference evaluates the role of a PTM (Patient Therapy Manager) in preventing withdrawals when converting from the use of oral to intrathecal (Spinal) Fentanyl by an implantable drug delivery system (pain pump). The study showed that with the use of a PTM, oral opioids or transdermal Fentanyl can be stopped completely at the time that intrathecal Fentanyl therapy is initiated via a pain pump without causing the patient to go into withdrawals. This is the first study ever to establish the role of a PTM in preventing withdrawals when converting from oral to intrathecal Fentanyl therapy.
This therapy is usually reserved as a last resort for the treatment of chronic intractable pain that is not being managed with a high dose of opioids or other interventional therapies, including surgery.
There are often challenges when initiating and maintaining pump therapy. One of those challenges is how to safely convert an oral opioid dose into an intrathecal pump dose.
The patient may go into severe withdrawals if oral opioid medication is stopped abruptly at the time of pump therapy initiation.
On the other hand, if oral opioids continue with pump therapy, then there is an increased chance of opioid overdose, which could potentially be lethal.

As one of the top experts in chronic pain management, Dr. Siddiqui has been devoted to research for over 20 years and has presented many research papers at various world class conferences.
One of Dr. Siddiqui’s focus areas of research is the management of chronic pain via the administration of spinal or intrathecal medications through an implantable pump.
An implantable drug delivery system (IDDS) can deliver a variety of medications directly into the spinal cord.
The new generation of Medtronic’s implantable drug delivery system, or pain pump, comes with a device called a Personal Therapy Manager (PTM).
This device plays an instrumental role in controlling breakthrough pain by allowing the patient to administer an additional fixed dose of intrathecal medication on preset intervals for breakthrough pain.

Can you smell it?

November 25, 2015

The distinctive smell of turkey cooking, the joy and cheers as each of the relatives and loved ones arrive. The giggle of children as they chase and play with each other. The faint smiles on every face, no matter where they are from or how long (or short) it has been since we have seen them last. The questions and interest about new “friend” that the teenagers have brought to dinner.

All these sights, sounds and smells make Thanksgiving the best Holiday of all. No gift giving pressure (that’s for next month), just the pleasure of being together …cherishing for another year the great blessings of life, family and freedom and resolving each year to do more with each. More of Life, more of family and more with our freedom.

Pain Treatment Centers of America is a business. A business made up of people that, like you, are grateful and all too aware of our blessings. We thank you for being our friends, customers and associates. May each of you find and appreciate the blessings, comfort and peace that comes from being “Thank Full” on this holiday.

We have exciting news for the VERY SOON so stay tuned. We will be expanding to more areas to serve more of Central Arkansas.

I never want to see you …

November 19, 2015

You might say the same for Pain Treatment Centers of America. We never want to see you.. but sometimes you, or those you love, will have to see us. It puts us in an odd place. You see, we work daily to help Arkansan’s live without pain. In a perfect world, we could work ourselves out of a job. But sadly, that’s not the case. As we all age, we feel those minor aches and pains that come from getting “over the hill” … but that’s not where we shine. Pain Treatment Centers of America is designed to help those that have exceptional pain. The sort of pain that makes every day hard. Pain that makes you question everything in your life.

At Pain Treatment Centers of America we understand. With over 100 years of collective experience in treating chronic pain we know and understand the ways that pain can affect you. Not just your body, but your mind too.

If you or a loved one is living in pain, please call us today 501-773-6993. There is no reason to not call. We accept Medicare, Medicaid, and most all other forms of insurance. While you “never want to see us” … it’s good to know that you can and we are here to help.

SCS: Spinal Cord Stimulation / Changing Lives

October 29, 2015

Big Words, “Changing Lives”, but as this interview with Dr. Siddiqui shows some patients can see true life changing results. The medical world can appear to be an alphabet soup of letters and abbreviations. Spinal Cord Stimulation (SCS) is exactly what it sounds like. By surgically implanting a Stimulator (wire) beside the spinal Cord and then Stimulating it (with a very small electrical charge) we can block the pain message sent to the brain. “Essentially, it’s like a pacemaker for spinal cord,” says Dr. Meraj Siddiqui.

As for the results? James Pate, who was injured after falling on boulders in his pond says “I was amazed. I was just like, I couldn’t believe how much it helped the pain,…. It didn’t take the pain completely away, but it gave me enough relief to get back to my life,”. Mr. Pate is now back to driving and attending church. He has his mobility and lifestyle back. No more physical therapy.

Here at Pain Treatment Centers of America our goal is to help “Restore your Quality of Life”. This procedure, as many others, requires a thorough evaluation of your needs and condition. Please call today to see if we can help you “Restore your Quality of Life”. Call 501-773-6993 for an appointment.
To see the entire article on KARK go to http://www.arkansasmatters.com/news/local-news/health-matters-spinal-cord-stimulation

Let’s get Local….Red Flag Alerts

October 27, 2015

Novemeber 3rd, 2015 our own Dr. Carl Covey will be presenting (and offering CEU Credit) a discussion about Red Flags and Drug Seeking Behavior. This is a Program offered by AR Attorney General, Leslie Rutledge. Her office is sponsoring a Prescription Drug Abuse Summit. We are honored to have Dr. Covey selected to speak at this event and recognized as an expert in this field. People addicted to Pain medication offer a particular pattern when they try to obtain medications. Those “flags” can be identified and steps taken to help the patient. By sharing his knowledge and experience with other local physicians in Arkansas, Dr. Covey is able to help educate others as to how to treat this illness. Dr. Covey will be sharing his examples of “red flag” behavior and tools used to identify Drug Seeking patients. We at PTCOA applaud and thank Dr. Covey for his dedication, knowledge and willingness to share with others to help reduce the instances of this problem in Arkansas.

69th Annual Post Graduate Assembly (PGA)

October 21, 2015

Dr. Meraj Siddiqui is presenting his research during the scientific session of the 69th Annual Post Graduate Assembly (PGA) meeting of the New York Society of Anesthesiologists in New York. New York Society of Anesthesiologists is the oldest society of anesthesiologists in the world. It is also one of the most respected scientific forums for anesthesia and pain management. Top scientists from all over the world are expected to present their state of the art scientific research at the 69th PGA meeting.

Dr. Siddiqui has been involved in research for over 20 years. Over the years, he has presented research papers at many different world class conferences. He is one of the leading experts in chronic pain management. One of his research focus areas is the management of chronic pain via the administration of spinal or intrathecal medications through an implantable pump. An implantable drug delivery system (IDDS), commonly known as a morphine pump, can deliver a variety of medications directly into the spinal cord. This therapy is generally reserved as a last resort for treatment of chronic intractable pain that is not being managed with a high dose of opioids or other interventional therapies, including surgery. One of the challenges with initiating and maintaining pump therapy is how to safely convert an oral opioid dose into an intrathecal pump dose. If oral opioid medication is stopped abruptly at the time of pump therapy initiation, then the patient may go into severe withdrawals. On the other hand, if oral opioids continue with pump therapy, then there is an increased chance of opioid overdose, which could potentially be lethal.

The new generation of Medtronic’s implantable drug delivery system, the “Pump,” comes with a device called a Personal Therapy Manager (PTM) that allows patient to administer an additional fixed dose of intrathecal medication on preset intervals for breakthrough pain. The PTM plays an instrumental role in controlling breakthrough pain.

Dr. Siddiqui’s research evaluates the role of a PTM in preventing morphine withdrawals when converting from the use of oral to intrathecal morphine by an implantable drug delivery system. His study showed that with the use of a PTM, oral morphine can be stopped completely at the time that intrathecal morphine therapy is initiated via an IDDS without causing the patient to go into morphine withdrawals. This is the first study ever done to establish the role of a PTM in preventing morphine withdrawals when converting from oral to intrathecal morphine therapy.

Dr. Siddiqui is presenting his study on December 12, 2015 at the Marriott Marquis in New York City.

I’ve Tried That! It Did Not Work!

September 8, 2015

The words hung heavy in the air. How do you reply to that? Many times, when we are in acute pain, the question comes up. Why even bother? What good does it do? That is the depression talking. But you say, I am not depressed, I am a happy person. Not so fast there. Depression is not a “shortage of happy “. Depression can strike us all and there is not a person who will not be affected while in constant pain. Depression is not something you CHOSE. It is something that comes with long term pain. There is no escaping it. But you CAN do something about the pain. Even if it “did not work” before. There have been great advances in medical treatment for acute pain in the last few years. You wouldn’t expect to climb into a new car at the dealer and see a cassette player, THINGS CHANGE. Don’t try and “push your way through it”. Come visit our caring and highly trained staff at Pain Treatment Centers of America and learn what we can do to help you manage your pain. At our Total Care Facility we can analyze your condition and chose the solution that best fits you. We are not a “shot / pill clinic”. We want a result that changes your life for the better. So, please, let’s try it again. You don’t still want a cassette player do you?

Contact Us

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At Pain Treatment Centers of America,

While there isn’t always a cure for chronic pain, we believe that every person deserves the chance to have their pain reduced and their lives improved to the maximum of current medical practice. We strive to accurately diagnosis, effectively educate and properly manage all chronic pain conditions.

PTCOA has the most pain management physicians under one clinic umbrella in the state.

Please feel free to contact us at 844-215-0731 or via email form to the left to schedule your appointment or you can have your primary care physician print a referral form and fax to our office. We will contact you as soon as possible and most new patient appointments can be scheduled within 2-3 weeks.